Furnace port



Aug. 23, 1932. J, N, W|| SQN 1,873,093

FURNACE PORT Filed Sept. 2l, 1931 ma Md/ i Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT AOFFICE- JOHN N. WILSON, OF WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SIMPLEX ENGINEER- ING COMPANY, CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FURNACE rom* Application led Septemberv21, 1931.l Serial No. 563,936.

'The invention relates to heating furnaces, metallurgical furnaces, and to other furnaces which are heated by the combustion of gaseous fuel. The fuel, together with combus- 'a tion-sustaining air, is introduced through ports in the walls of the furnaces, and more particularly the invention is directed to a port structure for such furnaces. The object of the invention is to provide a port structure which more effectively preheats and mixes the air and fuel on its way to the furnace chamber. I aim at greater combustion eiciency in a port structure of economical design.

A structure embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. I is a fragmentary view, showing in vertical section one end of a furnace chamber, and a port in accordance with my invention associated therewith; Fig. II is a fragmentary view, showing in elevation a portion of the structure, as it appears on the plane II-II of Fig. I; and Fig. III is a fragmentary view, showing the structure in crosssection, taken on the plane III-III of Fig. I.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 1 denotes the chamber of a furnace, through whose end wall a port 2 extends.

A regenerator chamber 3, including refrac-` tory checkerwork 4, is adapted in accordance with well known practice to pre-heat air for combustion of fuel within the port and the furnace,and a hollow neck 5 affords communication between the regenerator chamber-3 and the port 2.

In the past it has been the practice to introduce gaseous fuel laterally through the wall of the air-introducing ducts of the furnace (such as through the side walls 6 ofv neck 5). In such practice the fuel is introduced immediately to the air moving through the duct, and a mixture of fuel and air is caused to stream through the port and into the furnace. However, objections attend such practice. For example, in the case of 60 c iencyv of combustion. Additionally, the fuel wide air ducts and wide furnace ports, they of lower volatility are used, such as the highA ethane and methane gases produced in the southern and .western fields of the United.

States. Accordingly, it will be understood that in providing an inexpensive port structure which preheats the gaseous fuel and thoroughly mixes and distributes the so-preheated fuel with the preheated combustionsupportingair, I obtain advantages of the nature desired. I

To this end, I include in the forwardwall 7 of hollow neck 5 a passage which comprises an upwardly-extending portion `8 and a portion 9 extending angularly thereto. Gaseous fuel is piped from a convenient source of supply, and, being under pressure, is injected to the passage 8 by means of injectors 10; the injectors include in structure valve plates 11 through which communication is had with the open air. Accordingly, air in regulated quantities may be drawn, as in some cases it is drawn, from the atmosphere and introduced to passage 8, together'with the fuel.` It will be noted that the fuel enters the passage transversely of its extent; in the passage I provide in staggered arrangement a plurality of baffles 12, so that a thorough mixing of air and fuel'is obtained, and even in ports of maximum Width, an even distribution of fuel is obtained. I u

The angularly-extending portion 9 of the passage extends between a "ioor, or wall 13. and a .tongue 14 of refractory brick. The ioor 1 3 slopes towar'd an outlet 15, normally closed by a plug 16; a .block 17 is located as shown, to prevent slag (which under some conditions of servicecollects on the Hoor 13) from falling into and fouling the fuel passage 8. From time to time the vent 15 may be opened and the collected slag removed.

The fuel upon entering the lower end of passage 8 Hows upward in tortuous path around baflles 12; in so flowing the fuel absorbs heat from the wall 7a which, maniand at the mouth 18 the fuel is discharged festly, will be at an elevated temperature. Upon entering passage portion 9, further heat enters the fuel from tongue block 14,

into the air streaming through the neck 5 to the port 2. Advantageously, the fuel enters the streaming air from beneath, and before and during combustion the fuel naturally rises and mixes with such air. Manifestly, the mouth 18, in being coextensive in width with the throat of neck 5, insures an even distribution of fuel across the stream of combustion-supporting air.

When air is injected through injectors 10, along with the fuel, I have found that partial combustion vof the fuel within the fuel passage (8, 9) may be effected, and in such case additional preheating of the fuel is obtained. Whereupon, such conditions of combustion are produced as increase the efficiency of the port.

While I have specified gaseous fuel as the -fuel to be used, I contemplate that powdered fuel and fuel oil may be employed by substituting for the gas injectors 10, in]ectors of well-known design for the feeding of oil or of powder'edwfuel. The port structure here disclosed may be advantageously employed in any type of recuperator or regenerator furnace.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a; furnace port, a hollow neck for the conduction 'of preheated air to said port, a passage for gaseous fuel in the forward wall of said neck, which passage includes an upwardly-extending portion and a portion extending angularly thereto, baille members in said passage, and means for introducing air and fuel to the upwardly-extending portion of `vthe passage, whereby a mixture of air and fuel is adapted .to flow through the passage and to enter from below air streaming toward said port, together with a slag outlet inl the wall of said angularlyextending portion of said passage.

2. In combination with a furnace port, a hollow neck for the conduction of preheated air to said port, a passage for gaseous fuel in the forward wall of said neck, which passage includes an upwardly-extending portion and l a. portion extending angularly thereto, baflie members in said passage, and means for introducing air and fuel to the upwardly-extending portion of the passage, whereby a mixture of air and fuel is adapted to flow through the passage and to enter from below air streaming toward said port, together with a slag outlet in the wall of said angularlyextending portion of said passage, and a slag block positioned between the two portions of said passage.

3. In combination with a furnace port, a regenerator for the preheating of air, a hollow neck affording communication between said regenerator and said port, a passage nrovided in the wall of said neck, said passage comp-rising an upwardly-extending portion communicating with an angularly-extending portion directed toward the furnace port, means for introducing fluid fuel to the upwardly-extending portion of said passage, baffles in said passage between the region of fuel admission andthe angularly-extending portion of the passage, the organization being such that the fuel in moving through said passage becomes preheated and the air fegenerator in effect serves also as a fuel regenerator.

In testlmony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' JOHN N. WILSON.

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